Process in the manufacture of artificial silk.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

L. ORESPIN. PROCESS IN THE MANUFAGTURE 0P ARTIFICIAL SILK.

APPLICATION FILED D1302, 1905.

Witnesses:

UNITED (STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIEN CRESPIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE, Pnocl zss" IN THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL SILK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Original application filed February 4,1905, Serial No. 2451,186. Dividedand this application filed December 2, I906; Serial I i No. 289,983. r

curred in connection with the solvent for the nitrocellulose. Thissolvent simply serves as a vehicle for the nitrocellulose, and once theartificial silk or threador horsehair or the like is formed it isnecessary to cause such solvent to disappear.

In factories actually producing artificial silk or its equivalent it hasbeen the rule to use the least possible quantity of solvent, which iscomposed of a mixture of ethylic alcohol and sulfuric ether, and oncethe desired object is attained-that is, the production of the silk,thread, or equivalent-the solvent mixture is allowed to evaporate.

The whole of the solvent employed is thus lost.

In carrying out my improvements I substitute for the solvent abovedescribed a solvent mixture suited to the nature of the nitrocellulosewhich it is desired to dissolvethat is to say, a mixture of ethylicalcohol, methylic alcohol, and sulfuric ether, to which is added acertain quantity of cas'tor-oil, palm-oil, orglycerin. -Avery clear andfluid collodion is thus obtained which readily lends itself to theproduction of filaments or the like. This collodion is then forcedthrough a suitable nozzle into a water-bath, when part of the solvent isdissolved, after which the threads are wound up andthe bath treated forthe recovery ofthe contained solvent.

may employ many different forms of apparatus; but the two forms shown inthe accomcable for the production of ribbons or the like. Fig. 4 is avertical section of one of the devices by which the filaments are formedFor using the collodion thus formed in accordance with my invention Iand throu h which the collodion is expressed or squirted. varieties ofsuch vices, the openings through which are varied according to thedesired product. r

In producing filaments or the like according to this invention thecollodion whenforced through the holes or openings in the differentdevices enters into a water-bath, (indicated by 2 in Figs. 1 and 2.) Onentering this bath the threads or the likedo not immediately solidify,but pass through a gelatinous stage in which they can be drawn out orattenuated to any desired size. During the passage 'of' the threads or'the like throu h the water-bath nearly the whole of the so ventemployedis dissolved in or enters into combinatlon with the water, andit is onl necessary to regulate the water-inlet 3 an the Water-outlet 4(see Fig. 1) to insure that the issuing water shall contain about tenper cent. of alcohol.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the thread or the like forming nozzle or device 1 isprovided with a number of minute or capillary holes, through which thecollodion is forced by suitable ressure in the form of fine filaments.hese Fig. 5 illustrates'in pla'n several filaments'pass u ward throughthe waterthe filaments pass straight from-the nozzle to thewinding-roller in a straight line.

In theform of apparatus shown in Fig. 3, and which is preferred for themanufacture of ribbons and the like, the thread or threads or equivalentfrom the forming-nozzle 16 passes or pass around the angular edge 6 ofthe bath 17 containing the water on its or their way to thewinding-roller 18. 19 indicates the main pipe containing the collo dion.The Water from the bath containing the mixture of ethylic and methylicalcohol is heated to drive off the alcohol, and the alcohol is'condensedand collected. To this alcohol it only becomes necessary to add againthe required weak proportion of sulviously required to expel thecollodion through the nozzles may be very much reduced. In consequenceof this the tubes 7 (see Fig. 1) or 19, (see Fig. 3,) containing thecullodion, may be formed of glass, ebonite, or other suitable materialwhich is inert to or is incapable of being acted upon by the collodion,which greatly improves the filaments or the like produced. Anotheradvantage of using a very liquid or fluid coll odion consists in thepracticability of employing a forming-nozzle with a series of capillaryholes, as indicated in 10, Fig'. 5. A nozzle may consist of a glasscylinder 8, (see Fig. {L furnished with a flange, by means ofwlnch itmay be attached to the cock or tap. cap or plate 9, of platinum, whichmay be perforated with the capillary holes, as shown at 10 in Fig. 5, orwith one larger hole, as at 11, or'with straight or undulator y slits,as indicated at '12 and 13 in the same figure, according to whether itis desired to produce artificial silk, horsehair, straw, or ribbons. Theoint between the cap 9 and the cylinder 8 is maintained by means of aflexible rubber At its end is a flanged,

the joint tig t.

- This application is a division of the application filed February 4,1905, Serial No.

Having described my invention, I claim- The process for the productionof artificial silk and the like or equivalent, which consists indissolving nitrocellulose in a mixture of ethylic alcohol methylicalcohol and sulfuric ether with castor-oil, alm-oil or glycerinexpressing the dissolve nitrocellulose through a suitable nozzle into awater-bath where part of the solvent is dissolved, winding up thethreads or the like, and treatin the water from the bath for therecovery 0 the contained solvent, substantially as and in the mannerdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses:

LUCIEN CRESPIN.

Witnesses:

HEN RY DANZER, CAIUs DANZER.

, packing-rm 14, the interior pressure keeping

